Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.


The most important event OF the
past week at the Capitol was the
meeting and organization OF the In
ter-State Commerce Commission and
its entrance upon duty. Everything
wears look of activity at the TEN.
porary headquarters OF the new court
which consist of a suite of rooms in
building on F street. Messengers
are running to and fro all day long,
and the anteroom is filled with a
crowd of people anxious to interview
the new officials.
The latter are having all the trouble
that was predicted would be theirs
and that belongs to every official
who has the making of an appoint
ment. They are besieged with let
ters and personal applications fol
office from every state in the Union
The first discussion of the Commits
sioners over that intricate piece oil
Legislation which they are called
upon to interpret, referred to the
i" Long and Short Haul" clause.
Judge Cooley the President Of the
Commission who is Republican, is
admitted by the other members to
know more about law and railroad
matters than all of them put together.
Thel efore there was no contest over
his election to the Cbairmanship.
The National Drill committee is
now very busy. The entries have
all bee closed, and now the work of
scheduling is being pushed as fast
as possible. Besides the commands
entered, regiments, battallions, bat
teries of artillery, cadet corps, zouave
companies and a large number OF
band and drum corps, the number OF
individual competitors is estimated
at about 160, and many more will
contest in the rifle practice.
The committee OF arrangements is
very sanguine that the coming show
will eclipse anything of the kind that
has ever occurred in this country,
and as to the telegram from Mont.
gomery, Ala, in regard to the color
line question, they think it is exag-
gerated, and that it will be overcome
in time. Mr.. DeLeon, the secretary
of the Drill committee, is of the opin.
ion that outside of Washington there
is not a colored military company
which can raise enough money to
make the expensive trip, and if they
can do that. it would be difficult to
pass inspection.
Some weeks ago there were con
lectures as to the disposition of en-
tries known to come from colored
militia companies, many persons in
timating that if they were allowed to
compete it would have the tendency
to keep out many of the white organ
lZati0ns. At that time the manager
said that all entries received in pro,
per form, duly signed and recorded
should receive the same attention.
and that if the Capital City Guards,
Of Washington, filled the require
ments they could compete just as we'll
as the famous Chickasaw Guards.
A National Drill could not make a
color requirement when the laws OF
the country say otherwise. The Sc.
quel of the news from Alabama taat
the Greys and the True Blues would
withdraw from the Drill because OF
the entry of three colored companies
has yet to be unraveled, but the
hope is expressed at headquarters
that common sense will prevail
among the competing Southern
militia.
The promotion of Messrs. Fair.
child and Maynard to be Secretary
aad Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury was received with expressions OF
satisfaction from the employees of the
Department. More than thousand
oftheir subordinates called to express
congratulations and flowers, notes
and kilograms of congratulation have
poured in. Mr.. Fairchild who has
never been an active politician is ex-
ceedlngly popular with those under
him. He is very accessible too.
He makes a habit of keeping the
door of his Office open at all hours of
the day and sits with his face toward
it.
There is constant complaint from
the sight-seers who are always hur.
rying around Washington by the
thousand that the Government De
partments are closed to visitors af-
ter two O'Clock P. NJ. 1t is perfectly
proper to exclude all callers during
business hours but none ofthe clerks
are interfered with by mere sight.
seers. 1t is a serious Inconvenience
and disappointment sometimes to
strangers who are here only a few
days and are trying to see as much
as possible in that time to be shut
out so early in the day from many
places of interest.